Thill-coupling



(No Model.)

W. BANNER & J. M. BILLING.

THILL COUPLING.

Patented P6132 1, 1885.

171/ve71/05rs ZMMQ Wm NITED S'rarns AlllNT rricn.

WVILLIAM DANNER AND JACOB M. BILLING, OF CANAL FULTON, OHIO.

THILL-COUPLlNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,823, dated February24:, 1885.

Application filed March 1'7, 1894.

(X0 model.)

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that we, WILLIAM DANNER and J noon M. BILLING, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Canal Fulton, in the county of Stark andState of Ohio, have invented con tain new and useful Improvements inThill- Couplings, of which the following is aspecification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure1 is alongitudinal vertical section through a coupling constructed inaccordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the samedetached from the draft-plate and clip. Fig. 3 is atransverse sectiontaken on line 00 w of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of aspring-key used in connection with the thillcoupling, and forming partof our invention.

Our invention relates to thill-couplings for buggy and carriage shaftsor the tongues of vohicles; and the objects of our improvements are toprovide simple and inexpensive means for promptly attaching to ordetaching from the draft-plates of vehicles the shafts or pole thereof,and at the same time produce such a firm connection that there shall notbe any rattling of the parts. WVe attain these objects by the deviceillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which A represents thefront axle of a vehicle, B one of the draft-plates, andG a clipconnecting the latter with the axle. In this instance the draft-plateBis provided with lugs B,bored horizontally for the passage of the bolt,pin, or rivet b. Upon the bolt is mounted the eye D, formed at the endof a small rectangular plate or bar, D, so thatthe bolt 5 forms theconnection between the draft-plate and the bar D, and hinges the latterto the lugs upon the draft-plate B; but said lugs may just asconveniently form a part of the clip 0, as such a location is well knownin the art. The bar Dis provided with two slots, (1, preferably ofrectangular form, to receive two hooks, 6, pro

j ecting from the under side of the thill-iron E.

The inner surface of the hooks is slightly beveled at c, to bear againsta correspondinglybeveled surface on the under side of the bar D, andadjoining the forward portion of the slots d, to draw the thill-irontightly against the bar D, and to lock them firmly in this position awedge, F, is introduced into the rearmost pressure upon the wedge.

slot d, against the rear of the back hook, e, the thill-iron beingslotted vertically at that point for the passage of the wedge. It willeasily be seen that this mode of uniting thethill-iron to the bar Dforms a very firm and strong connection between the two. The number ofhooks e projecting from the thill-iron may vary from one to three ormore. The wood thills E are secured to the thill-irons in the usualmanner. The eye D may be formed by bendinga light bar in the middle ofits length and bringing its ends together under the thill-iron E, wherethey will be clamped between the under side of the latter and the hooks6 thereof, and any well-known means may be used to prevent rattling ofthe eye Dagainstthe bolt b or against the lugs B.

To retain the wedge F securely locked to the thill-coupling, a tongue ofleather may be used and passed through the transverse holef in thewedge; but we prefer the spring-key G, as it produces a constantdownward or looking This key is formed of a short length of spri11g-wirebent over to form a single or a double coil at g, with its ends 9 and gsubstantially parallel. The end 9 is bent sidewise against itself topresent a broader bearing-surface, and the extremity of the end is bentdownwardly at to form a stop and prevent the key from escapingaccidentally out of the opening in the wedge, and, although quite securewhen once placed in its seat, it is easily removed by a person compressing its ends together or pressing upon them adjoining to the coiledportion.

\Ve reserve the right to broadly claim the spring-key in a separateapplication.

Having now fully described our invention, we claim 1. As a new articleof manufacture, a thillcoupling composed of the thill-iron E, providedwith hooks projecting therefrom, the bar D, provided with slots toreceive said hooks, and means, as set forth, for retaining the hooks inengagement with theslotted bar, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the thill-iron E, provided with hooks c, with thebar D, provided with slots (2 and an eye, D, at one end, and the wedgeF, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with the draftplate or axle-clip ofavehicle andthebolt b, of the plate F and spring wire key G, substantially as and 10D, provided with slots d, the thill-iron E, havfor the purposedescribed.

ing books 6 projecting from its fiat side, and In testimony whereof weaffix our signatures the wedge F,passing through the thill-iron and inpresence of two Witnesses.

the plate D, substantially as and for the pur- WILLIAM DANNER.

pose described. JACOB M. BILLING. I

4. The combination of the thill-iron E, pro- 1 \Vitnesses:

vided with hooks e, and the bar D, provided WM. H. SUTTER,

with slots to receive said l1ooks,with the wedge A. J. KITTINGER.

